Apparatus and method for processing analog signals and outputting digitally converted analog signals using serial bus

1. An apparatus processing analog signals and outputting digitally converted analog signals via a serial bus, the apparatus comprising: a multiplexer receiving at least one analog signal and outputting only one of the at least one analog signal in response to a control signal; an analog-to-digital converter converting the output analog signal into a digital signal; a first controller generating the control signal, outputting the control signal to the multiplexer, and controlling the operation of the analog-to-digital converter; and a bus controller outputting the digital signal via an external serial bus, wherein the first controller comprises: a first address setting unit storing a unique address of the apparatus; and an activation determination unit receiving activation information via the external serial bus, determining whether the activation information is identical to the unique address of the apparatus, activating the bus controller when the activation information is identical to the unique address, and deactivating the bus controller otherwise.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , which is connected via the external serial bus to at least one other apparatus.

3. An apparatus processing analog signals and outputting digitally converted analog signals via a serial bus, the apparatus comprising: an analog-to-digital converter converting an analog signal into a digital signal and outputting the digital signal; an address setting unit storing a unique address of the apparatus; a first controller determining whether externally input activation information is identical to the unique address; and a serial bus controller connecting the digital signal to an external serial bus when it is determined that the externally input activation information is identical to the unique address.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the unique address is set differently from at least one other apparatus so that the at least one other apparatus is connectable to the apparatus via the external serial bus.

5. An apparatus processing analog signals and outputting digitally converted analog signals via a serial bus, the apparatus comprising: a multiplexing collecting unit receiving at least one analog signal and activation information, and selecting one of the at least one analog signal, converting the selected signal into a digital signal, and outputting the digital signal via an external serial bus, when the received activation information is identical to unique address of the multiplexing collecting unit; an address-based collecting unit receiving the activation information, and converting a collected analog signal into a digital signal and outputting the digital signal via the external serial bus when the received activation information is identical to a unique address of the address-based collecting unit; and a serial bus unit providing the external serial bus which connects the multiplexing collecting unit and the address-based collecting unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the multiplexing collecting unit comprises: a multiplexer receiving at least one analog signal and outputting one of the at least one analog signal in response to a predetermined control signal; an analog-to-digital converter converting the output analog signal into a digital signal; a first controller generating the control signal, outputting the control signal to the multiplexer, and controlling the operation of the analog-to-digital converter; and a bus controller outputting the digital signal via the external serial bus.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first controller comprises: a first address setting unit storing a unique address of the multiplexing collecting unit; and an activation determination unit receiving activation information via the serial bus, determining whether the activation information is identical to the unique address, activating the bus controller when the activation information is identical with the unique address, and deactivating the bus controller otherwise.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the address-based collecting unit comprises: a second analog-to-digital converter converting an analog signal into a digital signal and outputting the digital signal; a second address setting unit storing a unique address of the address-based collecting unit; a second controller determining whether the activation information is identical to the unique address of the address-based collecting unit; and a serial bus controller connecting the digital signal to the external serial bus when the activation information is identical to the unique address of the address-based collecting unit.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the multiplexing collecting unit and the address-based collecting unit have their own unique address, and the multiplexing collecting unit and the address-based collecting unit are activated so as to be connected to at least another apparatus via the external serial bus, only when the activation information is identical to the unique address.

10. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprises an address comparing and connecting unit storing a unique address of the apparatus, and activating the apparatus so as to be connected to the external serial via when information input to the apparatus is identical with the unique address of the apparatus.

11. A data processing method which is performed by an apparatus which processes analog signals and outputting converted analog signals using an external serial bus, the method comprising: (a) receiving at least one analog signal; (b) selecting one of the received at least one analog signal in response to a control signal received via the serial bus, and outputting the selected signal; and (c) converting the selected analog signal into a digital signal and transmitting the digital signal via the serial bus, wherein (c) comprises: (c1) setting a unique address of the apparatus; (c2) comparing an address contained in the control signal and the unique address of the apparatus in order to determine whether they are identical to each other; and (c3) allowing the digital signal to be transmitted to the serial bus when the contained address is identical to the unique address, and preventing the digital signal from being transmitted via the serial bus otherwise.

12. A computer readable medium having recorded thereon a computer program for execution by a computer of a data processing method which is performed by an apparatus which receives analog signals and outputs digitally converted signals via an external serial bus, the method comprising: (a) receiving at least one analog signal; (b) selecting one of the received at least one analog signal in response to a control signal received via the serial bus, and outputting the selected signal; and (c) converting the selected analog signal into a digital signal and transmitting the digital signal to the serial bus, wherein said converting comprises: (c1) setting a unique address of the apparatus; (c2) comparing an address contained in the control signal and the unique address of the apparatus in order to determine whether they are identical to each other; and (c3) allowing the digital signal to be transmitted to the serial bus when the contained address is identical to the unique address, and preventing the digital signal from being transmitted via the serial bus otherwise.